examples of personification in romeo and juliet
15 Examples of Personification in Romeo and Juliet
Personification a figure of speech in which an animal, non-living character, or a natural phenomenon is given human-like qualities. Let's understand this concept better through some examples of personification in Romeo and Juliet.
Did You Know?
Romeo and Juliet was based on a poem, which was further based on two real lovers who lived in Verona, Italy, who died for each other in the year 1303.
Words used to personify something are meant to express emotions on levels where simple words fall short in description, allowing the reader to imagine the scene or scenario through the eyes of the writer or poet, thus, bringing the words used to life. Personification creates visual imagery, captivating the reader's attention and imagination. By giving an inanimate character human-like emotions, the writer distracts the reader from the original concept, only to go on and accentuate the emotions felt by the character.
The following is a list of some examples of personifications used in Romeo and Juliet.
Act 1, Scene 1, Page 7
Benvolio: An hour before the worshiped sun peered forth.
Meaning: An hour before the sun rose in the east.Act 1, Scene 1, Page 8
Montague: As is the bud bit with an envious worm...
Meaning: Montague shows concern about introverted Romeo. The worm shares the human emotion of envy.Act 1, Scene 1, Page 11
Romeo: Love's weak childish bow she lives uncharmed.
Meaning: Romeo speaks of Rosaline, and says that she can't be impressed and won't listen to loving words.Act 1, Scene 2, Page 1
Capulet: The earth hath swallowed all my hopes.
Meaning: Here, 'hope' is in reference to Capulet's children, who are buried. By this, Capulet means that there are no hopes, as in, there are no children alive to pin hopes on.Act 1, Scene 2, Page 2
Capulet: When well-appareled April on the heel of limping winter treads.
Meaning: The above lines indicate the climatic change from winter to spring. It also indicates the onset of change and new love.Act 1, Scene 4, Page 2
Romeo: Is love a tender thing? It is too rough, too rude, too boisterous, and it pricks like thorn.
Meaning: Romeo questions love, and gives it human emotions of being tender, rough, rude, and boisterous, while comparing it to thorns.Act 1, Scene 4, Page 2
Mercutio: If love be rough with you, be rough with love; prick love for pricking, and you beat love down.
Meaning: Mercutio believes in 'an eye for an eye', and advises Romeo to denounce love.Act 2, Scene 2, Page 1
Romeo: Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon, who is already sick and pale with grief, that thou her maid art far more fair than she.
Meaning: Romeo personifies the moon and the sun. He gives the emotion of envy and grief to the moon, as he is jealous of his love 'Juliet'. He asks the sun to rise, as he's beckoning someone to come.Act 2, Scene 2, Page 4
Romeo: By love, that first did prompt me to inquire. He lent me counsel and I lent him eyes.
Meaning: Love is personified, and it, like a person, guided Romeo to look for Juliet. It told him what to do, and made him look from another perspective.Act 2, Scene 2, Page 7
Romeo: Love goes toward love, as schoolboys from their books, but love from love, toward school with heavy looks.
Meaning: Love is compared to lovers who are attracted and enthusiastic about each other. He then compares love to schoolboys who have a love-hate relationship with their books and school. They love their school, but hate to go to school with their heavy books. By this he expresses the bitter-sweet pang he feels when he separates from Juliet; he knows he has to part from her just for the night, which makes his heart heavy, but at the same time he's optimistic and keen on meeting her again, which puts him at ease.Act 2, Scene 3, Page 1
Friar Laurence: The grey-eyed morn smiles on the frowning night, Checkering the eastern clouds with streaks of light, And fleckled darkness like a drunkard reels...
Meaning: Night is turning to dawn, and the darkness is vanishing with the early morning sunlight. Darkness like a drunken man disappears for the day.Act 2, Scene 3, Page 2
Friar Laurence: Care keeps his watch in every old man's eye, and where care lodges, sleep will never lie.
Meaning: Here, care means worry about someone. Friar Laurence explains that worry is for old men, and where there is worry, there is no sleep. He advises Romeo not to worry, as it will keep him awake at night.Act 3, Scene 2, Page 1
Juliet: For thou wilt lie upon the wings of night, whiter than new snow upon a raven's back. Come, gentle night, come, loving, black-browed night, give me my Romeo.
Meaning: Juliet compares Romeo's fair skin to snow on a raven's back. She awaits night, as Romeo meets her only at night and for them to be together. She personifies night by giving it characteristics like being gentle, loving, and giving; as it brings Romeo along with it.Act 3, Scene 2, Page 4
Juliet: Back, foolish tears, back to your native spring.
Meaning: She tells herself not to cry, by ordering the tears to return to where they come from.Act 3, Scene 2, Page 5
Juliet: Poor ropes, you are beguiled, Both you and I, for Romeo is exiled.
Meaning: Juliet compares herself to the rope ladder that Romeo used, which now lay useless like her. She says she will die a virgin widow as Romeo will not be around as he's sent on exile.